CBI probe into Rizwanur's death demanded

Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on Sunday visited the family of Rizwanur Rahman and reiterated her demand for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into his mysterious death soon after his marriage with a rich Hindu girl.

Residents of Tiljala Lane, where Rizwanur lived, marched in a silent procession wearing black badges to register their protest on the day of Eid-ul-Fitr. Banerjee also participated in the rally.

"Only a CBI probe can unravel the truth about Rizwanur's death and expose those behind it," she said after meeting Rizwanur's family.

Banerjee also demanded removal of those Indian Police Service (IPS) officers who were allegedly trying to break Rizwanur's marriage with Priyanka Todi, daughter of city industrialist Ashok Todi.

"No fair and objective inquiry is possible without removing these officers," she said.

Banerjee demanded a probe into the allegations of cricket betting slapped against Ashok Todi.

On Saturday, about 22 days after Rizwanur's body was found near railway tracks with his head smashed, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya went to his house and promised action against the policemen allegedly involved threatening him.

Bhattacharya, who had on Friday termed Rizwanur's mother Kiswar Jahan's refusal to meet him at his residence as "unfortunate", spent around 30 minutes at the victim's house in central Kolkata and promised justice.

"I am convinced that Lalbazar (headquarters of Kolkata Police) had meddled in the conjugal life of Rizwanur and his wife Priyanka Todi. I am extremely hurt about the incident. Please have faith in me and give me some time as a judicial inquiry is on and a case has been filed in the Calcutta High Court. I will punish the guilty cops and provide you justice," Rukbanur, brother of Rizwanur, quoted the chief minister as saying.

Bhattacharya earlier ruled out a CBI probe and asked the bereaved family to have faith in him and in the ongoing Crime Investigation Department (CID) probe.

Ashok Todi, owner of the multi-million rupee the Lux Cozi group, and some senior police officers in the state are in the eye of a storm for allegedly intimidating the youth to opt out of the marriage.

Rizwanur, a 30-year-old graphic designer, had mentioned the names of Gyanwant Singh and Ajay Kumar, besides police officers Sukanta Chakraborty and Krishnendu Das as the ones who had harassed him.

Earlier, Priyanka told the CID that she believed Rizwanur had committed suicide and that her parents were not responsible for the death.

Lending credence to the suicide theory propounded by police, she reportedly told the State Women Commission (SWC) members that she would have returned to her husband after reasoning with her parents to accept the marriage.